Welcome to Delhi’s quirkiest and most diversified food village. With a choice of cafe’s, restaurants, fine dinners, bars, clubs, and tiny take out spots, Hauz Khas Village seems to have created a bubble to suite every Delhi walla’s food instincts.
Starting of as a hidden little village with just a few restaurants and cafes, within a year it has become the place to dine with now over 30 new eateries, each one with it’s own unique slice of character.
The road south to the urban village of Hauz Khas is lined on both sides by ancient stone monuments, and the entire village is dotted with domed structures—the tombs of minor Muslim royalty from the 14th to the 16th centuries. At the end of the road is the tomb of Firoz Shah Tughluq, who ruled Delhi in the 14th century. Hauz Khas means “Royal Tank,” referring to the artificial lake visible from Firoz Shah’s pillared tomb. The tank was actually built a century earlier by Allauddin Khilji as a water source for his nearby fort, then called Siri (the second city of Delhi). Back in the village, wander through the narrow lanes to experience a medley of old and new structures—expensive shops and art galleries in a medieval warren. Find your way to the gardens near the ruin of a madrassa at the back of the village. The kindly old gentleman often playing cards can sometimes be coaxed into an impromptu Urdu lesson. In the 1980s Hauz Khas was designated an upscale tourist destination, but (perhaps fortunately) the process of redevelopment was never completed, so some of the village character persists. After exploring, stop for a meal at one of the village’s restaurants, particularly Park Balluchi (in the Deer Park), Naivedyam, or the Village Bistro. Your best bet here would be Gunpowder which has the best South Indian food this side of the country. It also has a bird’s-eye view of the lake and is a solid (and new) favorite of Delhiites. HKV also has the popular Living Room Café, which has great live and DJ performances over the weekends. You’ll hear a lot of reggae there. It also has a fair number of young, funky upcoming designers that have opened their stores here. The biggest store to look out for is White: a minimal, very cool multi-designer outlet, in the same building as the Living Room Café (or TLR).
Verve Lounge 